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The University of North Alabama football team found themselves

trailing 23-7 late in the first half before rallying to take a

28-23 lead in the third quarter only to let the game slip away in

the final minute against Harding University as the Lions fell

29-28.  

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The Bison did not complete a pass in the game until the final drive

of the contest when running back Jeremy Holt completed a halfback

pass to wide receiver Kurt Adams for a 22-yard gain on

fourth-and-16. 

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The Bison then converted yet another fourth down attempt when

quarterback Josh Powell found wide receiver Jeremy Holt for a

10-yard gain on fourth-and-seven. 

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Powell then completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Watson to

give the Bison the lead.  

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The two-point conversion failed and the Lions ran out of time

driving down the field after moving into Bison territory.  The

Lions end the season with an 8-3 record overall and missed out on

earning a share of the Gulf South Conference title. 

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The Bison rushed for 328 yards, the most any team has rushed for

against the Lions this season, and passed for just 54 yards.  The

UNA offense struggled to find a rythmn early but finally settled in

and finished with 312 total yards, rushing for 144 and passing for

168.  

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UNA received the opening kickoff and proceeded to go three-and-out

on the opening possession of the game.  Punter Kolby Taylor then

dropped the snap and managed a five-yard punt that gave the Bison

the ball in UNA territory at the 37-yard line.  

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Colton Kamper then ran 14-yards for the Bison’s first score of the

game.  Adin Menkin’s extra point gave the Bison a 7-0 lead. 

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Following another punt by UNA, senior defensive back Chad Danield

intercepted a pass by Powell at the UNA-42 yard line.  UNA

quarterback Lee Chapple then found wide receiver Tim Hawthorne for

a 39-yard scoring strike for the Lions first score.  Kolby Taylor’s

extra point evened the score at 7-7.

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The Bison then scored 16-unanswered points to take a 23-7 lead. 

The first score came after Chapple was sacked and fumble the ball. 

The Bison took over and scored when Kamper took the ball four-yards

into the endzone for his second touchdown of the day.  

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The extra point gave the Bison a 14-7 lead.  Menkin then added a

26-yard field goal following a UNA punt to extend the Bison lead to

17-7 with 8:06 left in the first half.

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Following another UNA punt, Harding quarterback Jeremy Holt busted

a 49-yard touchdown run.  The missed extra point gave the Bison a

23-7 lead with 5:23 left in the half.

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Chapple threw an interception on the Lions ensuing drive.  The

Bison then turned the ball when defensive lineman Courtney Harris

recovered a fumble at the Harding-16 yard line, setting up the

Lions with great field position.  A 13-yard pass to wide receiver

Chris Simpson gave the Lions the ball at the Harding three-yard

line.  Chapple then snuck into the enzone one play later to cut the

lead to 23-14 at halftime.

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The Bison fumbled the ball on the opening drive of the second

half.  UNA defensive back Bryan Thomas recovered and raced 73-yards

for a touchdown.  The extra point cut the lead to 23-21.  

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The Bison then fumbled the ball once again on their next possession

as linebacker Larry Wilson recovered the fumble forced by Harrison

Bryant.  After moving the ball into Bison territory, Chapple was

sacked and fumbled the ball back to the Bison.

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UNA cornerback Chad Daniel then recovered yet another Bison fumble

that up a 10-play, 47-yard scoring drive that ended with running

back Chris Coffey finding the endzone from one-yard out.  The extra

point gave the Lions a 28-23 lead.

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The Lions had several chances to extend the lead in the fourth

quarter.  Daniel intercepted a pass attempt by Josh Powell and the

Lions proceeded to drive down to the Bison one-yard line before

Chapple was stopped short on a fourth down attempt.

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Kolby Taylor missed a 42-yard field goal attempt following another

Bison fumble.  Harding turned the ball over on its first five

possessions of the second half.  

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Chapple finished the day completing 15-of-30 passes for 168 yards

and one touchdown.  Chris Coffey led the Lions with 11 carries for

52-yards and one touchdown.  

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Wes Holland added 15 carries for 47-yards.   Tim Hawthorne all

receivers with two catches for 58-yards and a touchdown.

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Despite the loss the Lions still earned a playoff spot in the NCAA

Division II playoffs.  The Lions will face GSC rival Valdosta State

University this Saturday in the first round of the playoffs.